Panel-securing frame structure and fabrication method thereof

ABSTRACT

A panel-securing frame structure and a fabrication method thereof are disclosed for accommodating a LCD panel. The present invention is to utilize an angled mold to form an even number of angled members which are identical in shape and size, and then to connect the angled members together in the way that the openings of the angled members are opposite to each other. Further, a stripe-shaped mold is used to form an even number of stripe-shaped members which are identical in shape and size, and then to connect the stripe-shaped members respectively to the angled members. Another feature of the present feature is to form a plurality of decoration patterns on the appearance of the frame structure, and the decoration patterns are identical to the common appearance pattern of the connection portions of the angled members and/or the stripe-shaped members.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a panel-securing frame structure and a fabrication method for making the same, and more particularly, to the frame structure and the fabrication method thereof for securing a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Having the features of easy installation, low power consumption, and promising development future, LCDs have been widely applied in technical fields, and gradually adopted to daily applications, such as LCD TVs. The size of LCD TV becomes larger and larger, and the size of the fame structure used for securing its display panel is also increasing accordingly, so that the molding tools for fabricating the frame structure has to re-developed, thus increasing a lot of tooling cost. In addition, the development of larger frame structure needs to use mold-developing and injection-forming machines of large scale, resulting in increasing a lot of equipment cost. On the other hand, while being produced, a large-sized frame structure has much more deformation than a relatively small-sized frame structure, and thus it is quite difficult to control the production quality of the large-sized frame structure, causing a poor production yield for the large-sized frame structure.

Hence, there is an urgent need to develop a panel-securing frame structure and a fabrication method thereof, thereby using relatively small-sized mold-developing and injection-forming machines to fabricate a large-sized frame structure with increasing the production yield.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a panel-securing frame structure and a fabrication method for making the same, so that a large-sized frame structure can be fabricated with relatively small-sized mold-developing and injection-forming machines, and the production yield of the large-sized frame structure is also increased.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a panel-securing frame structure and a fabrication method thereof for flexibly increasing the size of the frame structure.

An object of the present invention is to provide a panel-securing frame structure and a fabrication method thereof, so that the connection portions between angled members and/or stripe members of the frame structure can be hidden for beautifying the appearance of the frame structure, thereby increasing market competition.

According to the aforementioned objects, a panel-securing frame structure and a fabrication method thereof are provided for accommodating a LCD panel.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the frame structure for securing a panel comprises: an even number of angled members which are identical in size and shape, and an even number of striped members which are identical in size and shape. The angled members have an even number of openings, and are connected respectively to the striped members with the openings facing to one another. The angled members and the striped members are connected to form a plurality of connection portions, and the connection portions all have a common appearance pattern. Further, the panel-securing frame structure includes a plurality of decoration patterns respectively located on the exterior surfaces of the angles members and those of the striped members, and the decoration patterns are identical to the common appearance pattern. Moreover, the exterior surface of the frame structure has a switch-mounting structure used for installing a switch device.

In the fabrication method of the frame structure for securing a panel, an angled molding tool and a striped molding tool are first provided, and then an even number of identical angled members are formed by using the angled molding tool, and an even number of identical striped members are formed by using the striped molding tool, wherein the angled members have an even number of openings. Thereafter, the angled members and the striped members are mutually connected with the openings facing to one another, and a plurality of connection portions formed on the areas where the angled members and the striped members are connected, wherein the connection portions all have a common appearance pattern. Further, a plurality of decorative patterns are formed on the exterior surfaces of the angled members and those of the striped members, and the decorative patterns are identical to the common appearance pattern. Further, a switch-mounting structure is formed on the exterior surface of the frame structure for installing a switch device, and the switch-mounting structure can be formed additionally after the frame structure is formed, or directly formed by molding tools.

Hence, with the application of the present invention, a large-sized frame structure can be fabricated by using relatively small-sized molding tools, and mold-developing and injection-forming machines, and the production yield of large-sized frame structure can be promoted; the size of the frame structure can be increased flexibly; and the connection portions between angled members and/or striped members can be hidden so as to beautify the appearance of the frame structure, thereby increasing market competition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a schematic back view showing a frame structure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a schematic explosive view showing the backside of the frame structure according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1C is a schematic front view showing the frame structure according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic explosive view showing the backside of a frame structure according to the other preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is featured in using an angled molding tool to fabricate an even number of angled members which are identical in size and shape, and connecting the angled members together by making the openings of the angled members face to one another. The present invention is also featured in using a striped molding tool to fabricate an even number of striped members which are identical in size and shape, and then connecting the striped members respectively to the angled members, so as to increase the length and/or width of a frame structure. The so-called angled member means a member having at least one angle (such as a right angle), for example, a L-shaped member, a U-shaped member, etc.

Referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, FIG. 1A is a schematic back view showing a frame structure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 1B is a schematic explosive view, showing the backside of the frame structure according to the same. According to the preferred embodiment, the frame structure for securing a panel is composed of two identical angled members (U-shaped members 100 and 110), and two identical striped members 120 and 130. Each of the U-shaped members 100 and 110 has an opening, and the U-shaped member 100 and the U-shaped member 110 are connected respectively to the striped member 120 and the striped member 130 with the opening of the U-shaped member 100 facing the opening of the U-shaped member 110. Connecting ends 102 and 104 of the U-shaped member 100 both have a first connection pattern, and connecting ends 112 and 114 of the U-shaped member 110 both have the first connection pattern. Connecting ends 122 and 124 of the striped member 120 both have a second connection pattern, and connecting ends of the striped member 130 both have the second connection pattern.

Further, referring to FIG. 1C, FIG. 1C is a schematic front view showing the frame structure according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Such as shown in FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C, the connecting ends 102, 104, 112 and 114 having the first connection pattern are combined respectively with the connecting ends 122, 124, 132 and 134 having the second connection pattern, to form a plurality of connection portions 230, and the connection portions 230 all have one common appearance pattern formed from the combination of the first connection pattern and the second connection pattern. The present invention is also featured in forming a plurality of decoration patterns 240 on the exterior surface of the frame structure, and the decoration patterns 240 are identical to the common appearance pattern 230, so that consumers will fail to tell the locations of the connection portions 230, thereby achieving the purpose of hiding the connection portions, thus beatifying the appearance of the frame structure. Besides, a switch-mounting structure 260 is formed on the exterior surface of the frame structure of the present invention for installing a switch device.

For the case of fabricating a 47-inch LCD TV, while the conventional skill is adopted to fabricate a 47-frame structure formed in one piece, the cost of the molding tools takes about $130,000 US dollars (the total weight of the molding tools is about 26.5 metric tons), and the required injection-forming machine weighs about 2,500 metric tons; while the present invention is used to divide a 47-inch frame structure into four pieces of components, just two relatively small molding tools need to be used (one molding tool for making the U-shaped members 100 and 110; the other molding toll for making the striped members 120 and 130), and the cost of the molding tools takes only about $88,000 US dollars (the total weight of the molding tools is about 15 metric tons), and the required injection-forming machine weighs only about 1,000 metric tons. In addition, smaller molding tools form smaller components that involve les deformation. Hence, the present invention can greatly increase production efficiency and lower production cost. It is worthy to be mentioned that the switch-mounting structure can be formed additionally after the frame structure is made, or can be directly formed with the molding tools. If the switch-mounting structure is formed with the molding tools, then the present embodiment needs to use three molding tools, wherein one is used for making a U-shaped member or striped-member having the switch-mounting structure; one is used for making a striped-member without the switch-mounting structure; and one is used for making a U-shaped member or striped-member the switch-mounting structure.

It is worthy to be noted that the locations and shaped of the aforementioned components are merely stated as an example for explanation, and the angled members of the present invention can also be two pairs of L-shaped members, so that the present invention is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a schematic explosive view showing the backside of a frame structure according to the other preferred embodiment of the present invention. According to the present embodiment, the frame structure for securing a panel is composed of two identical L-shaped members 300 and 320, two identical L-shaped members 310 and 330, and two identical striped members 340 and 350. Each of the L-shaped members 300, 310, 320 and 330 has an opening, and the L-shaped members 00, 310, 320 and 330 are connected respectively to the striped members 340 and 350 with the openings of the L-shaped member 300, 310, 320 and 330 facing to one another. Both ends of each of the L-shaped member 300 and 320 have the forms identical to a first connection pattern, and both ends of each of the L-shaped member 310 and 330 identical to a second connection pattern. Both ends of each of the striped member 340 and 350 have the forms identical to the first connection pattern and the second connection pattern respectively. The present embodiment utilizes three relatively small molding tools for increasing the length of the frame structure (one for making the L-shaped members 300 and 320; one for making the L-shaped members 310 and 330; and on for making the striped members 340 and 350). Just as stated above, the switch-mounting structure can be formed additionally after the frame structure is made, or can be directly formed with the molding tools. If the switch-mounting structure is formed with the molding tools, then the present embodiment needs to use four molding tools.

Moreover, the present invention can utilize another molding tool to fabricate two more striped members, wherein one striped member is connected between the L-shaped member 300 and the L-shaped member 310, and the other striped member is connected between the L-shaped member 330 and the L-shaped member 320, so as to increase the width of the frame structure.

The method for combing the connection ends of the first connecting pattern and the second connecting pattern can be the design of clipping or fastening, etc. For these designs are well known to those who are skilled in the art, they will not be described herein. As to the cross-sectional shape of the frame structure, it can be L-shape or any other shape.

Hence, it can be known from the aforementioned embodiments that the present invention has the advantages of fabricating in a large-sized frame structure by using relatively small-sized molding tools, and mold-developing and injection-forming machines, thus promoting the production yield of large-sized frame structure; flexibly increasing the size of the frame structure can be increased flexibly, thus greatly increasing production efficiency and lowering production cost; and hiding the connection portions between angled members and/or striped members for beautifying the appearance of the frame structure, thereby increasing market competition.

As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the foregoing preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated of the present invention rather than limiting of the present invention. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structure. 

1. A frame structure for securing and accommodating a panel, said frame structure comprising: an even number of first angled members having a plurality of first openings, wherein said first angled members are identical in size and shape, and said first angled members are connected together with said first opening facing to one another; and a plurality of first connection portions formed on the areas where said first angled members are connected, wherein said first connection portions all have a common appearance pattern.
 2. The frame structure of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of first decoration patterns respectively located on the exterior surfaces of said first angled members, wherein said first decoration patterns are identical to said common appearance pattern.
 3. The frame structure of claim 1, wherein said first angled members are two U-shaped members.
 4. The frame structure of claim 1, further comprising: an even number of first striped members which are identical in size and shape, wherein said first striped members are connected respectively to said first angled members.
 5. The frame structure of claim 4, further comprising: a plurality of second decoration patterns respectively located on the exterior surfaces of said first striped members, wherein said second decoration patterns are identical to said common appearance pattern.
 6. The frame structure of claim 4, wherein said first angled members are two U-shaped members, and the number of said first striped members is two.
 7. The frame structure of claim 1, wherein both ends of each of said first striped members have the forms identical to a first connection pattern, and both ends of each of said U-shaped members have the forms identical to a second connection pattern, and said first connection pattern is combined with said second connection pattern to form said common appearance pattern.
 8. The frame structure of claim 1, further comprising: an even number of second angled members having a plurality of second openings, wherein said second angled members are identical t in size and shape, and said second angled members are connected together with said second openings facing to one another; and a plurality of second connection portions formed on the areas where said second angled members are connected, wherein said second connection portions all have said common appearance pattern.
 9. The frame structure of claim 8, further comprising: a plurality of second decoration patterns respectively located on the exterior surfaces of said second angled members, wherein said second decoration patterns are identical to said common appearance pattern.
 10. The frame structure of claim 8, further comprising: an even number of first striped members which are identical in size and shape, wherein each of said first striped members is connected respectively to each of said first angled members and each of said second angled members.
 11. The frame structure of claim 10, further comprising: a plurality of second decoration patterns respectively located on the exterior surfaces of said first striped members, wherein said second decoration patterns are identical to said common appearance pattern.
 12. The frame structure of claim 10, wherein said first angled members are two first L-shaped members, and said second angled members are two second L-shaped members, and the number of said first striped members is two.
 13. The frame structure of claim 12, wherein both ends of each of said first striped members have the forms identical to a first connection pattern and a second connection pattern, and both ends of each of said first L-shaped members have the forms identical to said first connection pattern, and both ends of each of said second L-shaped members have the forms identical to said second connection pattern, and said first connection pattern is combined with said second connection pattern to form said common appearance pattern.
 14. The frame structure of claim 8, further comprising: an even number of first striped members which are identical in size and shape, wherein each of said first striped members is connected respectively to each of said first angled members and each of said second angled members, thereby increasing the length of said frame structure; and an even number of second striped members which are identical in size and shape, wherein each of said second striped members is connected respectively to each of said first angled members and each of said second angled members, thereby increasing the width of said frame structure. 15 The frame structure of claim 10, further comprising: a switch-mounting structure located on the exterior surface of said frame structure, wherein said switch-mounting structure is used for installing a switch device.
 16. A fabrication method of a frame structure for securing and accommodating a panel, comprising: providing at least one angled molding tool; fabricating an even number of angled members with said at least one angled molding tool, wherein said angled members has an even number of openings; and connecting said angled members by making said openings face to one another, wherein a plurality of connection portions are formed on the areas where said angled members are connected, and said connection portions all have a common appearance pattern.
 17. The fabrication method of claim 16, further comprising: providing at least one striped molding tool; fabricating an even number of striped members with said at least one striped molding tool; and connecting said striped members respectively to said angled members.
 18. The fabrication method of claim 17, wherein a plurality of decoration patterns are formed on the exterior surfaces of said angled members and the exterior surfaces of said striped members.
 19. The fabrication method of claim 17, further comprising: forming a switch-mounting structure on the exterior surface of said frame structure for installing a switch device.
 20. The fabrication method of claim 17, wherein said switch-mounting structure is formed by using one of said angled molding tool and said striped molding tool. 